Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, announced Thursday the appointment of former U.S. counterterrorism official Joe Kent as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center.
Kent—45—brings a background as an Army Ranger with 11 deployments, primarily in Iraq, followed by service as a CIA paramilitary officer. He enters the role under a joint-agency mandate alongside the CIA, FBI, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security to lead U.S. operations against domestic terrorism threats.
Kent’s path to this position included a 2018 transition into the CIA after his wife, Shannon, was killed in a 2019 suicide bombing. He later ran as the Republican nominee for Washington’s 3rd congressional district in 2021, winning the primary but losing the general election to Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in a major upset.
Gabbard shared a photo of Kent’s oath-taking at ODNI headquarters in Washington, D.C. Kent’s confirmation by the U.S. Senate—required for the post—was already secured earlier this month.
“With two decades of military service, including 11 combat deployments, Joe has consistently put country before self, enduring great personal sacrifice in that service,” said DNI Gabbard in a release from her office. “His experience serving as the tip of the spear in some of the world’s most dangerous battlefields has given him a deep, practical understanding of the enduring and evolving threat of Islamist terrorism, as well as the threats we face from the cartels’ human trafficking and drug trafficking operations.
“Under Joe’s leadership, the National Counterterrorism Center will reinvigorate its focus on counterterrorism and counternarcotics, integrating Federal, State and Local law enforcement and intelligence agencies to carry out President Trump’s border security mandate and ensure the safety, security and freedom of the American people. I am proud to welcome soldier, father, husband, patriot Joe Kent to our leadership team.”
NCTC Director Kent added: “It’s a profound honor to be confirmed as NCTC Director at this pivotal moment. I’ve spent over two decades on the front lines of the counterterrorism fight, from Fallujah to Yemen, losing my wife Shannon and countless brothers-in-arms to this war. Their sacrifices drive me to lead with relentless focus to keep Americans safe. There’s no better time to take on this mission, and I’m deeply grateful to President Trump and DNI Gabbard for entrusting me to lead NCTC in defeating the threats we face.”
